The influential Ladakh Buddhist Association (LBA) has formally requested Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena to initiate a comprehensive investigation into allegations of attempted religious conversions targeting individuals and families within the Buddhist community in Ladakh. The association has expressed grave concern over what it describes as organized efforts to convert Buddhists to Christianity, citing specific instances and past occurrences that have reportedly led to communal tensions in the region.
In a letter submitted to the Lieutenant Governor, LBA president Chering Dorjay Lakrook detailed that the Ladakh Police had brought to the association’s attention the operation of an unregistered office from a rented house in Skampari, Leh. According to the LBA president, approximately 20 young individuals from the Buddhist community were allegedly being employed on a monthly honorarium to translate the Bible from English into local languages such as Aryan, Changthangi, and Zanskari, reportedly utilizing the Roman script. Information reaching TahirRihat.com suggests that this activity was initially detected by the youth wing of the Ladakh Buddhist Association.
Lakrook asserted that such illicit attempts, facilitated by organized Christian missionaries and potentially bolstered by foreign funding channeled through Indian citizens from other parts of the country, are not a new phenomenon in Ladakh. He further alleged that in previous instances, vulnerable and economically disadvantaged families had been targeted, with their children allegedly being taken to Srinagar under the guise of educational opportunities. The LBA president stated that these children were eventually returned following the intervention of the then Jammu and Kashmir government, as the matter had escalated into a significant law and order issue in Leh. He claimed that similar attempts have been made on multiple occasions in the past, each incident contributing to heightened tensions within Ladakh.
Regarding the most recent case, the LBA president claimed that when members of the association’s youth wing inquired about the source of the honorarium payments, some of the youths involved in the translation work reportedly indicated that the funds were being transferred by an individual residing in Andhra Pradesh. Lakrook also stated with certainty that a few local Christian individuals are implicated in what he termed a conspiracy. He urged the administration to conduct a thorough investigation into the matter, identify any broader conspiracy at play, and take appropriate legal action against all responsible parties.
The LBA president emphasized that Ladakh is not an isolated case, noting that such activities by organized Christian missionary groups are reportedly prevalent in tribal areas and among economically weaker sections across other parts of India. He declared that the Ladakh Buddhist Association would not tolerate any actions aimed at altering the demographic composition of the region, asserting that the issue also carries implications for national security. The association expressed hope that the Ladakh administration would take all necessary measures against those involved, including any local individuals, to safeguard communal harmony and national security.
This development follows closely on the heels of an announcement by Leh Police that they had apprehended eight individuals suspected of involvement in organized religious conversion-related activities. A statement from Leh Police indicated that the accused persons were allegedly engaged in recruiting local youth for conversion-related activities in the Zanskar, Changthang, and Aryan Valley regions. Preliminary investigations, as reported by the police, revealed that the group had rented a residential property in Skampari, Leh, where offices were purportedly established for the translation and dissemination of religious materials. The premises are also suspected to have been utilized for activities connected with religious conversions.
Leh Police have initiated a comprehensive investigation to ascertain the full extent of the group’s operations across Ladakh. The inquiry is also examining potential financial links, including suspected foreign funding and related transactions. Several laptops, digital devices, and other relevant materials have been seized as part of the ongoing investigation. Police have stated that further investigation is underway, and appropriate legal action will be pursued based on the evidence collected.
Tahir Rihat (also known as Tahir Bilal) is an independent journalist, activist, and digital media professional from the Chenab Valley of Jammu and Kashmir, India. He is best known for his work as the Online Editor at The Chenab Times.
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